Ask An Unexpected Journey

[Nash]

Nash gave Arak a confused look when he asked what she meant. It took a moment to remember that he took things literally and probably thought she meant an actual dance, “Oh I basically fibbed that we were gonna hook up in the swamp so we could get back to the crew,” Nash explained. However, she slowed down her walk, glancing back at him, “I mean….it ain’t gotta be a lie..” She glanced at him with dramatized eyebrow dancing.

Unfortunately, they wouldn’t get to perform any sort of samba on account of probably overhearing XoCo rambling about something in the distance. Nash sped up immediately and eventually spotted them as night descended upon them. Everything was dark and the sounds of swamp critters rang all around them.

“Damn, where’s the fire?” Nash asked as both of them appeared to be out of breath. She was entirely oblivious to any dark shapes, but instinctively hugged her body from the sudden chill that befell them. Her breath came out in wisps and there was a sense of dread, but she didn’t dwell on it just yet, “We ran into a Hedge Witch, I think,” Nash said. She gave a creepy smile at Nash’s question which could only mean one thing, “She has a whole ass camp. We could probably rest there for the night.”

@Apollyon @Rom @Javier esschoolbus @Logan

 

[Connor Vance]

The creature shrieked as Xo slashed it across it's massive eye. Connor didn't bother to stand around and see what happened next. He just bolted. As they ran, he'd hear rustling from up ahead. There was no white mists, so no Mist Stalkers and the swamp wasn't growing eyes or mouths, so they had at least that going for them.

When Nash and Arak emerged from the underbrush, Connor breathed a half-sigh of relief. It was a sigh that caught in his throat as he saw the three apparitions take form around them. These things had them surrounded but weren't moving to attack. For a brief moment Connor felt dread and fear and panic rise up in him. He expected Nash to comment on them, to point out the spooky specters, but she didn't. Neither did Arak or Xo. He wondered if they could see them or not. Connor had to warn his friends but do so in an intelligent way, he couldn't be the weakest link again.

So Connor reached his mind out to brush Arak's. He sent his friend an image of the ghostly creatures around them. How can't you see them? He asked mentally. Let Nash know. We can't afford to be ambushed but we have an opportunity to jump them when they get the drop on us. He'd give Arak time to reply before pulling his mind away from the Pureblood's and gently nudging Xo's mind. He'd relay what he was seeing, a warning to play it cool, and to not tell Nash and Arak about the literal Swamp-thing until after they'd dealt with the spooks.

Connor calmly made eye contact with Nash, he steadied his breathing as he spoke. "I think heading towards that camp is a great idea." He replied. "We bumped into some weird mist bound...things back there and I'd rather not see them again." He continued. "And we need to get Xo a real weapon of some kind." Connor told Nash with a playful nudge to Xo.

Even as he forced a chuckle from his lips, Connor's hand would steadily slip towards the grip of his Peacemaker. When these things moved in, he'd put a heavy bolt into one of them. He had never met a creature that a blaster shot couldn't put down...in a high enough quantity sometimes.

@Sreeya @Rom @Javier esschoolbus @Logan

 

[Xohhar K'liir]

When Xoh swung his blade he was almost surprised to find it striking true, the creature shrieking in agony as one of its eyes was slashed open, though the Falleen did not stick around to see the spray of blood or the abominations writhing. Sprinting through the underbrush on Connor's heels, the Falleen acolyte concentrated on the path ahead for several minutes before finally chancing a look over his shoulder to see if they were being pursued.

"Con, I think we los-" A snapping twig cut him off and Xoh whipped around with his sword held low and ready at his side only to let out a sigh of relief at the sight of Nash and Arak. "Oh thank all the little gods, it's just you two."

A small knock on his shields pulled his attention from the reunion and his relieved smile dimmed at the impression of shadow creatures only Connor could see surrounding them. Plan delivered, Xoh send back a mental affirmative and gave a put upon frown at Connor nudging him.

"Hey now, a vibrosabre is a perfectly adequate weapon! You and those blasters, so pedestrian..." As he muttered about the half-Sephi's lack of sophistication Xoh flicked his eyes toward Nash and Arak while calling to mind the approximate location of the shade, ready to lash out with blade and Force on Connor's signal.

@Apollyon @Javier esschoolbus @Logan @Sreeya

 

[Arak Ragnos]

Arak was walking next to Nash as she explained the meaning of the swamp samba, “Ohh..” He said as he finally caught on to the meeting. He didn’t even catch on to that the first time. Then Nash started to slow down which made him also slow down. He turned his head quickly to glance at her as she mentioned making it not a lie, “I wouldn’t mi….” He trailed off as he heard what sounded like XoCo talking.

As they made their way to the noise he was a little annoyed at getting interrupted. The other two eventually came into view and Arak let out a sigh, at least the interruption gave them proof that these two were alive. The darkness was fully setting in and the swamp was alive with sound.

When Nash asked about a fire Arak almost judged her till he noticed that XoCo seemed to have been running. That made him realize she was hopefully just poking at them about that. He didn’t recognize that there were figures around them, his body being assaulted with chills as a sense of dread set into him. His mind immediately went into alert mode as he began scanning the forest around them, he couldn’t see anything at all which only made him grow more wary.

Connor then sent a mental image and inquiry which only made him even more concerned, I don’t think they’re physical beings. He relayed mentally to Connor, I’ll get her up to speed. He said, taking a mental image of the creatures before dropping the connection. He would then connect to Nash mentally relaying the same image, Connor can see these around us. He informed her, The plan is to wait till they make a move and attack them when Connor does. He explained, Please don’t attack too soon Nashyrra, we will likely need the surprise of countering their attacks. He asked hoping she would listen. He didn’t want to engage something he couldn’t see without knowing they had an advantage.

Arak shut the connection to Nash and reached out with the force to try and see or sense their guests. He then returned to the conversation, “Blasters have their use, Xo.” Arak rebutted, “Unlike swords and the Force they are nowhere near as draining on the user.” He explained from his own minuscule experience with them. He pooled the Force to him as he prepared to try and use it against the non visible enemies.

@Sreeya @Apollyon @Rom @Logan

 

[The Storyteller]

To Connor's possible surprise, the shadow creatures didn't seem to be edging in for an immediate attack. Instead, he would hear the fainest whispers in his ear. Connor wouldn't quite be able to understand what they were saying, both because of the just-barely-there volume and the shadows were speaking a language he was unfamiliar with.

As the incantation escalated, thin strands of darkness would begin forming around Nash, Xohhar and Arak, creating swirling halos around their heads. It would be relatively clear to Connor that the shadow creatures either weren't aware that he could see them, or perhaps they simply did not care. Either way, it was obvious that whatever it was that they were doing was certainly not something that boded well in any way whatsoever.

As the invisible halos spun over their heads, Nash, Arak and Xohhar would start to feel their minds becoming cloudy, their thoughts muddled and viscous with molasses-like fog. It wouldn't all come at once, but they would feel it pressing on their eyes, their periphery losing focus. Even the force would start to feel distant. They would still be able to call on it, know it was there, but it would start to feel like too much sand filtering through their fingers.

As the whispers in his ears grew from barely there to a cacophony of sound, Connor would suddenly see his friends replaced with others. Nash and Arak would suddenly appear as his siblings, and Xohhar as the closest friend that Connor had lost to the Imperials.

The noise in his ears turned from something unknown into languished screams of terror, the visages he could see before him becoming tortured, as if their very souls were being shredded and torn apart.

During all of this, somewhere far away, dried and cracked lips once again split into a villainous smirk as blood red eyes watched the scene unfold through the swirling smoke of his orb.

@Sreeya @Apollyon @Rom @Javier esschoolbus

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor watched as reality melted away around him. In place of his friends, stood his younger brother, sister, and a friend he knew was dead. His brow furrowed in confusion, emotions usually held behind a veil of neutrality was openly displayed. His emerald eyes flicked between each of them, pausing briefly to regard them in turn.

“H-how is this possible?” He asked, emotion flooding his voice. “Y-you’re both back on Shadda, with Auntie.” He stated, blinking back confusion and tears. “And you…you can’t be here…you’re dea-”

Connor’s words caught in his throat at that realization. It was then a familiar sound echoed up from the nothingness, the sound of countless screams. The sounds of tormented souls echoed from the nether and clawed into his mind. As the terrible sound reached him, the forms of his siblings and his friend began to shift. He watched in horror as they began to burn, melt, and fall apart in front of his eyes. Their screams joining the dirge only moments before his own bloodcurdling cry joined in unison.

To his friends, they’d hear Connor speak strangely to them before moments later he began to shriek. His green eyes were wide with terror and unfocused. His hands clawed his hair and face as he sank to his knees. Connor was lost to the horrors of the illusion and the suffering he felt therein.

@Logan @Sreeya @Rom @Javier esschoolbus